Family of restaurateurs open fifth eatery with 'The Bryant'

The Bryant, the newest restaurant offering by the Christos family, Tuesday, December 11, 2018, at 1820 Sagamore Parkway West in West Lafayette. The Bryant features a wide variety of food and drink options in an upscale, contemporary setting.(Photo: John Terhune/Journal & Courier)Buy Photo

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind.— Standing newly constructed where the Morris Bryant restaurant once stood, The Bryant opened its doors to the public on Nov. 30.

Co-owned by John Christos and Eva Christos, Manny and Stacey Papadogiannis, Chris and Faye Christos, and Kalliopi Christos, The Bryant has been in the works for about two years, John Christos said.

The Bryant, located at 1820 Sagamore Parkway W, comes as the fifth restaurant for the family of owners, also owning and operating Red Seven Bar and Grill, the Lafayette and West Lafayette Christos locations and Cafe Literato.

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Co-owner John Christos talks about The Bryant, the newest restaurant offering by the Christos family, Tuesday, December 11, 2018, at 1820 Sagamore Parkway West in West Lafayette. The Bryant features a wide variety of food and drink options in an upscale, contemporary setting.(Photo: John Terhune/Journal & Courier)

Christos said he and his siblings believed it would be appropriate to have the name come back. It is taken from the Morris Bryant Smorgasbord, the Swedish restaurant which burned in April 1994. The remains were leveled by a tornado shortly afterward.

"We always wanted another restaurant in West Lafayette. We felt like there was a little bit of a gap in some of the offerings," Christos said. "(The Morris Bryant) was a well known restaurant, it had a good reputation after being in the community for many, many years, so we thought it would be interesting to bring the name back."

Christos said since opening the doors, customers have visited to tell stories of days spent working at the former restaurant as well as of many meals consumed, helping the family of restaurant owners to better understand the history behind the name.

The opening of the new restaurant was done so quietly, he said, looking to get their feet beneath them before seeing a constant flow of patrons come through the doors.

Christos said the focus of The Bryant is to shine a light on all that is offered in Indiana, as well as pulling as much from Tippecanoe County as possible, through everything from the building itself to the beer and food served.

"One of the first things we did when planning was thinking about just Indiana drafts of tap," he said. "But this is about the best that Indiana, and our local economy, has to offer."

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Guests begin to fill the tables during the non hour at The Bryant, the newest restaurant offering by the Christos family, Tuesday, December 11, 2018, at 1820 Sagamore Parkway West in West Lafayette. The Bryant features a wide variety of food and drink options in an upscale, contemporary setting.(Photo: John Terhune/Journal & Courier)

A starting point for the menu is the brisket and short rib burger, Christos said, along with the meatballs made fresh in house with the brisket and short rib meat as well, which is a take off from the original Morris Bryant restaurant.

Christos said seafood dishes are something he looks to bring into play on the menu as well as cuts of steak, but the menu is always evolving.

"We are always adding new things and changing what we have to get things where we want it,"he said. "So it's always going to be a tight menu that's changing."

Reach reporter Jillian Ellison at 765-420-5228 or at jeellison@gannett.com.